The Daily Score

Greenliness is Next to Godliness

Posted by Lisa Stiffler

02/16/2010 10:38 AM

What to cut for Lent? Try carbon.

Stained glass Giving up chocolate, TV watching, eating meat, and other vices for Lent is so last century. In 2010, some Christian leaders are urging the faithful to cut their carbon emissions as an act of penance. Not sure where to begin? Washington Interfaith Power & Light, a project of Earth Ministry, created this handy calendar that provides carbon-saving actions for each of the 40 days of Lent.

Suggested steps include setting a timer to see how long you're luxuriating in the shower and then aiming for five minutes or less; turning your water heater down to 120 degrees; observing the speed limit to save fuel; and writing or calling an elected official in support of climate legislation. And under this program, you can have your chocolate and be observant too: the Lent calendar allows for an indulgence in a Theo Chocolate bar, seeing as it's a local (Seattle-based), organic chocolate maker.

Lent starts Wednesday.

Stained glass photo courtesy of Flickr user Lawrence OP under a Creative Commons license.

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Comments

Posted by Matt the Engineer 02/16/2010 10:14 AM

Just don't drop the meat bit. Other than calling your legislator, eating less meat is probably the most effective way to cut carbon on your list.

Posted by Oregon Michelle 02/17/2010 01:06 AM

This calendar looks like it builds good environmental habits that will last much longer than the 40 days of Lent.

It also encourages us to think more compassionately about the natural world with which we share the environment. A lovely suggestion for this is listed on this day:

FEB. 24
Put out some bird food.
Birds will almost certainly
find it wherever the
location. Enjoy the gift of
these and other creatures
on Godʼs Earth.

Posted by GerneyLee Carter 02/18/2010 05:00 AM

I am like WAY shocked that you have "eating meat' as 'so last century'...to the contrary... Half of World’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Caused by Livestock

http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/11/03/half-of-worlds-greenhouse-gas-emissions-caused-by-livestock/

Not eating meat everyday, everymeal is THE MOST EFFETIVE THING AMERICANS can do to stop greenhouse gases...

Please post a correction to this statement.

Posted by Oregon Michelle 02/18/2010 03:39 PM

Praise the Lord! Giving up meat is suggested on this calendar. Though, for those of us who are already vegetarians from the last century, this is really no biggie.

MAR. 16
Go meat-free for the
day. The production
of meat uses more
carbon than the
growing of grains,
vegetables, and
fruits.

Posted by Oregon Michelle 02/23/2010 02:18 AM

Check out Meat Free Mondays, too! With recipes!

Plus, a full-time job for a new campaign manager, based in London! (Application closing date: 1 March 2010.)

Posted by Oregon Michelle 02/23/2010 03:01 AM

More ideas here!